Andrew Quinn

The SDLP’s Mark Durkan was re-elected as MP for Foyle in the early hours of Friday morning.

Mr. Durkan topped the poll with 17,725 votes (47.9 per cent) and increased his tally by 803 since 2010.

There were jubilant scenes in Templemore Sports Complex as Mr. Durkan was announced as the winner.

Mr. Durkan thanked his party colleagues, activists, family and made a point of showing solidarity with Sinn Fein councillors and activists who were targeted by dissident republicans in the run up to the general election.

Sinn Fein’s Gearóid Ó hEára finished behind Mr. Durkan with 11,679 votes. The number of people voting for Sinn Fein has decreased by 419 since Martina Anderson stood for election in 2010.

Julia Kee of the UUP was fourth with 1226 votes; David Hawthorne of the Alliance Party secured 835 votes, Kyle Thompson of UKIP took 832 votes whilst Hamish Badenoch of the Conservatives managed a paltry 132 votes.

It was confirmed that 526 ballots were rejected.

The voter turnout in Foyle was 53.58 per cent. The number of people eligible to vote was 70,035 with 37,528 casting their ballot.